FRAMING OF PEACE BY ALL ALLIES

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5312, 27 January 1947, Page 5

FRAMING OF PEACE BY ALL ALLIES

(Press Assn.-

austra'lian demand OTHER LESSER NATIONS SUPPORT VIEWS

— Rec. 9.80 p.m.)

LONDON, Jan. 25. Colonel Hodgson, before the J'oreign Ministers' Deputies discussing the Austrian peace ti ea ty, again pressed vigorously for the association of all the active belligerents in every State r the peace-jnaking. He protosted that the United States, United Kingdom and France had pnparently already prepared draft treaties which the small nations like Australia, had .ncver seen and had only read about it in the Press. Colonel Hodgson declared that Austria could not be freed from responsihility for participating in the war alongside Gennany. However, in view of the Anschluss she did not hear the primary responsibility and should he dealt with more leniently than Germany. He urged the restoration of the 19.17 boundaries, the completion of the Peace Treaty and ti e withdrawal of the occupation lioops as soon as possible.

Colonel Hodgson declared that the '•:>ur principles should govern the approach to any peace settlement. (1) Adherence to the undertakings in the Atlantic and United Nations ( 'harters. (2) Decisions should be hased on : thorough examination of all the moblems hy impartial committees. (1) No unjustifiable burdens or luimiliations should he fastened upon fh( ex-enemy States leading to a resurgenco of Fascism and pre^'enting the growth of genuine, democratic forces.

Durable Peace Structure (4) The object should be the attaininent of a just, durable over•ill peace structure, and not merely '' settlement, one by orie, of a series oi claims by individual nations aeainst their neighbours. Australia believed that although some provision should be made in the Treaty for reeognition of Austria as an independent nation, no specific jyuarantee of her independence should be necessary, as this question would come within the jurisdiction « the Security Council. Impartial committees should investigate all the lerritorial claims against Austria and the final decisions should be taken hy a full conference of all the active 'elligerents. Austria should be permitted mili'ar.v forces only sufficient to meet .asks of an internal character and local defence of the Austrian '■ rontiers. Surplus Austrian war material should be destroyed. Support by Other Nations "There is a growing snowball among the small nations in support of Australia's views 011 peace treaty making," said a Foreign Office spokesman. The Australian Associated Press correspondent learns that Canada is strongly interested and that she has requested assurance from the depur ties that a statement on the attitude to the settlement now will not preclude further association with the pi eparation of the peace treaties at a later stage. South Africa, Belgium, Denmark, 1 and Brazil are also lending strong support. They are eager to learn how far the United Kingdom, the L'liited States and the French delegates are willing to go to give effect to their expressions of sympathy for Colonel Hodgson's views.